NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



399 



ploughed and worked up with the top soil. A variety 

 of the large Eluc jiluin, growing upon the same 

 ground, is also very fine ; \vhile grafts taken from 

 the same plum-trees, and worked upon stocks grown 

 on different soil, prove worthless." 



THE HORSE. 



The horse is a noble animal, and is distinguished 

 for his intelligence and sagacity ; and with proper 

 treatment, he is remarkable for his docility and obe- 

 dience. This animal is not only necessary and use- 

 ful in a high degree, but he contributes largely to 

 the pleasures of man. What a shame, then, that he 

 should so often be subjected to the harsh treatment 

 of brutal masters ! The following article, which we 

 copy from the Philadelphia Dollar Ncwsjiaper, con- 

 tains valuable instruction on the treatment of this 

 noble animal. 



There is no domestic animal, perhaps, more sub- 

 ject to blemishes than the hoi'so ; none whoso use- 

 fulness depends more upon proper treatment ; and 

 none, when rightly managed, which contributes 

 more to satisfy the wants of mankind. A few sug- 

 gestions on this subject is the object of this com- 

 munication. The best way for a man, when about 

 to pui-chase a horse, if he be not a good judge of 

 one, is to take him for a while on trial. If the vender 

 is unwilling to let him go for that purpose, then be 

 unwilling to purchase him ; for, as a general rule, in 

 such cases, the horse has some defects which you 

 would not discover, except by trial. If, when using 

 him in various conditions and circumstances, he is 

 found to be sound and good in every respect, then it 

 can be pretty safely relied on that he is a good horse. 

 If all mankind were perfectly honest to tell the 

 whole truth concerning the horse, there would be 

 no necessity of a resort to this expedient ; but as the 

 generality of men are, so we must take them. Peo- 

 ple who have dealt much in horses generally under- 

 stand the various defects to which they are liable, 

 and can easily discover them by a little trial, al- 

 though they may not at first be visible. 



In judging by the outward appearance of a horse, 

 his size should be proportioned to the work in which 

 he is chiefly to be employed. Small horses are gen- 

 erally considered to be the toughest, and the cost of 

 their keeping is less than large ones ; so that they 

 are the most profitable to keep, unless they are to 

 perform very heavy work, as ploughing, carting 

 gravel, &c. His head should be as small as the pro- 

 portion of the animal will admit ; his muscles smooth 

 and line ; his ej^es prominent and cheerful ; his ears 

 small and iipright, and ])laced near together ; his 

 neck, from his shoulders, thick and deep, and, with 

 a moderate tapering, should join the head in a comely 

 manner; his shoulders, well thrown back, should 

 extend to the neck with a gentle tapering ; his chest 

 should be deep and full at the girth; his thighs 

 strong and muscular, and well formed ; his hoof cir- 

 cular, and wide at the heel, neither disproportion- 

 ably large, as it will make him clumsy and apt to 

 fill! ; his body should be long and round, Mich the 

 ribs extending well behind. In a word, symmetry 

 and beauty should be sought in every part. " 



Particular- attention should be given to feeding 

 horses. The neglect of this is, doubtless, one great 

 reason why we see many so mean and despicable. 



The stable should be warm, and at all times ^^•ell 

 littered, as horses are often made lame by standing 

 on a hard floor ; besides, it adds very much to their 

 comfort. They should bo well curried every day, 

 and in the winter, unless the stable is very warm, 

 should be blanketed. 



The horse should never bo permitted to undergo 

 any violent or excessive labor. All racing, and pro- 

 fuse sweating, therefore, should be avoided, as they 

 cannot be indulged in with impunity ; but it may 

 sometimes be unavoidable that he should perform an 

 unusual day's woi'lc, and that too, perhaps, in snow 

 or rain. In such cases, .particular attention must be 

 given to his keeping previous to the time, as well as 

 during the day. At night, let him be placed in a 

 warm stable, on a good bed of straw. 'J'hen remove 

 all dirt from his legs with soap and warm water. 

 Curry him well, and smooth his hair down with a 

 piece of cloth or sheepskin. Then wash his legs 

 with vinegar or spirits, to which may be added a 

 little melted lard, or oil. Give him a moderate sup- 

 per, and after he has ate a wliile, let him be watered, 

 which should never be done when he is sweaty, ex- 

 cept he be allowed to drink only a very small quan- 

 tity. In this manner the horse will be n-early as 

 well prepared the ne.xt morning for another day's 

 journey, as if he had done nothing on the preceding 

 day. 



It may be useless to say any thing cm whipping 

 horses ; but this barbarous practice is so common, 

 that a few words may not be inappropriate. It is 

 contended by some that it is absolutely necessary, 

 sometimes, to whip them. Experience and observa- 

 tion have generally convinced reflecting people that 

 such a course is erroneous, and that it rarely fails to 

 increase the faults Avhich it was intended to diminish. 

 Individuals, who indulge in using the lash, become 

 accustomed to it, so much that they are hardly con- 

 scious when they do whip their poor beast, which, 

 although, perhaps, almost ready to drop down with 

 fatigue, cannot speak a word of complaint, nor shed 

 a tear of grief to move the pitiless heart of its master. 

 When we see an individual very harsh with his oxen 

 or cows, as well as his horses, there we behold a very 

 fractious and wild team. His oxen fear his voice 

 and la.ih, and whenever they can, they will run 

 away from him, as a man would from a tiger. His 

 cows are no less fractious. They have to be put in 

 the barn, and not unfrequently to have their legs 

 tied before they can be milked. In such cases, no 

 good ever results from whipping. Why not, then, 

 restrain the temper and spare the lash ? Do it once, 

 conquer the passions once, and the next time it will 

 be easier. Coax these animals, rather than compel 

 them by the lash : it will be for your benefit, as well 

 as theirs. Above all, spare the horse. If any thing 

 will move the human sympathy of man, it is the 

 sight of one of these domestic animals, which has 

 nearly finished Iris life, and which has performed a 

 great deal of hard labor under a tyrant for a master. 



" His skin is sore with stripes, and he tottereth beneath 

 his burden ; 



His limbs arc stiff with age, his sinews have lost their 

 vigor, 



And pain is stamped upon his face while he wrestleth 

 unequally with his toil ; 



Yet once more mutely and meekly endureth he the 

 crushing blow ; 



That struggle hath cracked his heart-strings, — the gen- 

 erous brute is dead. 



Liveth there no advocate for him? No judge to avenge 

 his wrongs ? 



No voice that shall be heard in his defence ? No sentence 

 to be passed on his oppressor ? 



Yea, the sad eye of the tortm'ed pleadeth pathetically 

 for hira : 



Yea, all the justice in heaven is roused in indignation at 

 his woes : 



Yea, all the pity upon earth shall call down a curse upon 

 the cruel : 



Yea, the burning malice of the wicked is their own ex- 

 ceeding punishment. 



The angel of mercy stoppeth not to comfort, but passeth 

 by on the other side, 



And hath no tears to shed when a cruel man is damned." 

 Hanovek, N. H., 1849. M. F. 



